Six States sign MoU on Renuka Project

In the presence of Union Minister of Water Resources, Nitin Gadkari, a memorandum of understanding was signed for the construction of Renuka multipurpose project among the Chief Ministers of Uttarakhand, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi in New Delhi on Friday. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivandra Singh Rawat, his counterparts from UP Yogi Adityanath, Manohar Lal Khattar (Haryana), Ashok Gehlot (Rajasthan), Arvind Kejriwal (Delhi) and Jayaram Thakur (Himachal Pradesh) were present on the occasion.

While expressing happiness Rawat said that signing of the MoU has opened the way for Renuka project which has been pending for a long time. Six States will benefit from this project of national importance. He also expressed his gratitude to the Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari for giving a push for materialisation of the national projects that were stuck from a long time.

The Renuka project is a multipurpose project located on Giri river of Sirmaur district in Himachal Pradesh. Construction of 148-metre high rock fill dam is proposed under the project.

Total cost of the project is Rs 4596.76 crore. This project was declared a national project in 2008, as a result of which 90 per cent of the water component of the project will be funded by the Government of India. Construction, operation and maintenance of this project will being done by Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited.

After the construction of Renuka Project, the States of Uttarakhand, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi will get water in accordance with the prescribed quantity in the agreement, out of which Uttarakhand will get 3.81 per cent of the total water for domestic and industrial use.

Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat met the Union Minister Radha Mohan Singh in New Delhi on Friday to discuss the Integrated Co-operative Development Project in Uttarakhand. He also handed over the proposal of the State in this regard. Singh gave in principle approval for Rs 3340 crore for the Integrated Co-operative Development Project for Uttarakhand.

While expressing gratitude to the Union Minister Rawat said that the implementation of Integrated Co-operative Development Project will improve the economy of the farmers in Uttarakhand. Improvements in farming, horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries and other related activities will help in preventing migration.

Uttarakhand Minister of State for Co-operatives Dhan Singh Rawat and secretary R Meenakshi Sundaram were also present on the occasion.